John Copley’s definitive production is traditional opera at its best.

Set in Paris in the 1830s, the film focuses on a group of artists who share a drafty garret and the love affair between a poet named Rodolfo (Rolando Villazón) and Mimi (Anna Netrebko). They are a couple who are passionately in love with each, but face a test of love when Mimi falls ill with consumption. When they are tragically reunited as Mimi is dying the music and libretto demonstrate that poetry is present within the ordinary, and that love conquers even the sting of death.

WHY? It stars the opera’s world dream team soprano Anna Netrebko and tenor Rolando Villazon.

Change of cast

Sadly, Mexican tenor Rolando Villazón had to withdraw from singing the role of Rodolfo in the recording of La Bohème on Thursday 10 January, as he is still suffering from acute bronchitis.

Ukrainian tenor Dmytro Popov will appear appear as Rodolfo in cinemas.

Dmytro made his role debut with The Royal Opera earlier this month. He made his debut with the Company in 2011 as Ivan Sergeyevich Lïkov (The Tsar’s Bride). Previous roles include Macduff (Macbeth) in Lyons, Bogdane Sobinin (A Life for the Tsar) in Montpellier, and Cavaradossi (Tosca) and Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly) for Deutsche Oper Berlin. He is engaged to sing the role of Rodolfo with The Royal Opera on 18 January, and sang Rodolfo for the Company on 3, 5 and 7 January this Season.

Click here to go to the official website.

Categories: Music, Opera.

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